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Thursday, April 15, 2010

I am very happy to tell you about some really great new containers for packing bento-style waste-free lunches. I've been trying them out for a few weeks now and I love, love, love them! They were created by a mom, so you know some good thought was put into their creation. ;-) They are called EasyLunchboxes and I'm gonna tell you alllll about them.EasyLunchboxes come packaged as a set of four:The lids come in really bright, cheerful colors:You can pack lunch in them fast. It's brainless really, plop, plop, plop and you are done. What could be easier? :)turkey and havarti with lovely green ruffle edge lettuce on a croissant (are you drooling yet? yummmm!), baby carrots, SunChips.I know what you are probably thinking, "those look like the disposable containers I see at the grocery store". Right? You were thinking that, weren't you? ;-) I confess, when I first saw them I wondered the same thing. And I can't recall now where I first saw them, it was on a blog somewhere, and I was instantly wanting to try the boxes out (I am ALWAYS wanting to try out new lunch gear!), but I was hesitant to purchase something that wasn't going to be durable. So imagine my surprise and delight when Kelly, head honcho of EasyLunchboxes.com, contacted me to try them out! Happy day! :) And let me assure you, the EasyLunchboxes are nothing like the disposable containers you are familiar with. They are very sturdy and not bendy at all and simply a really good product I feel good about endorsing. :)Another great item that is part of this lunch system is the EasyLunchbox insulated cooler bag. These allow you to carry the EasyLunchboxes while keeping them nice and flat, and leaving enough space to pack additional snacks, ice packs and drinks:

This cooler bag is holding one EasyLunchbox, two ice packs and one stainless drinking bottle with room to spare!

This time I've packed 2 (count 'em, two!) EasyLunchboxes in the cooler bag and there is still space for ice packs and drinks! I've been finding these EasyLunchboxes fantastic to have on hand. I used them often during Spring Break when my family was off on outings and such. I predict I'll be getting a lot of use out of them! egg salad sandwich on whole wheat (goodbye Easter eggs!), baby carrots with container of ranch, homemade puzzle-piece shaped cheddar crackers (it is Autism Awareness Month afterall!).More details!- EasyLunchboxes are dishwasher and microwave safe. They are BPA free and lead-free and free of all that other icky crud you wouldn't want near your food. :)- The lids are nicely fitted, they close securely, but the compartments are not water-tight. You probably wouldn't want to put something like applesauce in one of the smaller squares without using an additional barrier like Glad Press n' Seal over it. But the lids fit much more closely than the Lock & Lock boxes or Sassy boxes I frequently use. There is definitely not enough of a gap for raisins or even granola to hop across the barrier!- While the lids are a good fit, they are not difficult to remove. Even my little 3 year-old can take off the lid (not very gracefully, but she can do it)!- I love them.- They are super affordable. The set of 4 (four!) EasyLunchboxes is only $13.95. The insulated cooler bags are $7.95. This is a great way to outfit your whole family with reusable, waste-free lunch gear without pinching the pocketbook. :)And speaking of pocketbooks, check this out...Yes, it's my pretentious handbag. No, that's not really what I wanted to show you. But if you come a little closer and take a peek inside....Ta-da! Another really great use I've found with the EasyLunchboxes...taking them to restaurants to bring home our leftovers. The sizes of the compartments has worked out GREAT for this! Since it fits in my purse, I don't feel like a dork carrying it into the restaurant. ;-) So there you go, folks! Awesome new containers for making fast and easy waste-free lunches. I urge you to go to the website and check them out. Kelly has a cute little video of her packing lunches there, a gallery of lunches packed in the EasyLunchboxes, and even pictures of how you can customize your lunch bags by using that clever grommet on the handle!

So glad to read this review, as I checked them out and instantly thought they looked like the flimsy save or toss containers from the grocery store. After your post I feel excited to try them, for my 3 yo and my uber-picky husband! :) Thanks - I just love your blog!

Just found you! Very cool blog! I absolutely love the muffin tin lunch idea. I have four kids too. 2 girls in school (1 part-time) and 2 at home (toddler twin boys). I make everything from scratch too.

These lunch containers look great! So glad they are BPA -free! -Ali :)

i have some gladware like that and I'm totally in love with them. when they crap out on me though i might just look it to the easylunchboxes. great idea take them to restaurants, i hate those Styrofoam boxes

I love this blog. I'm not a particularly creative person and since I have come across this blog and started these fun lunches for my daughter, I feel like I am filling a creative need. Each day I look forward to the new fun bento you made. Thanks!

I ordered some a bit ago too! They are nice...a bit bigger than I expected and too big for some of the lunches I pack for my kids, but still a good box to have in the "packing arsenal". :) They are perfect if you're packing a whole sandwich + sides, but for my kiddos (5 and 2) I don't usually pack that much.

I recently found your blog and I LOVE IT! I ordered the Goodbyn lunch boxes and my kids love them. I just find that the compartments are a bit big for my kids. I think I am going to have to try these out too!

I agree, Kerry. The Goodbyn compartments are really big. I find them good for packing some things, and not good for other things. I guess that's the good thing about having so many different boxes to choose from, I can always use the box that fits the food I'm packing that day the best. :)What I like about the Goodbyn, which is the same for the EasyLunchboxes, is that there are just two pieces - the bottom box and a lid. So easy!

I just recently came across your site and LOVE it! Thank you for sharing such great information.

We actually just purchased the EasyLunchboxes (ELB) system for our family - 1 bag and 4 containers for hubby and 1 bag and 4 containers for the kiddos and I to share when out and about running errands, at athletic events, etc. I am now considering trying the PlanetBox (PB) for our kiddos for their school lunches but do love the ELB's too - just curious about PB. Would you recommend PB or ELB (with or without the ELB cooler bag) for school-aged children's lunches? Which is easier? Which do you think kids would like better? In general, which do you think is a better system for young children? Thanks for your help!!

Yes, I do recommend both PlanetBox and ELB for school lunches. Which is easier & better? Gosh, that really depends on what sort of food you are packing. PlanetBox makes has 4 compartments (plus that teeny one, for a total of five), whereas EasyLunchboxes have 3. EasyLunchboxes are going to seal in the compartments better than PlanetBox (unless you use the PlanetBox "dippers" - those are leakproof). As far as what kids like better? Well, my oldest loves his PlanetBox. He thinks it's the coolest. EasyLunchboxes look a lot like any kind of "tupperware" type storage box, so it doesn't have any *cool* appeal. PlanetBox is a lot more expensive, but really worth it if you are going to be using it for a long time (and it WILL last a long time!). EasyLunchboxes are durable, but still plastic, so less durable -- though they are probably more versatile. I'd never take a PlanetBox to a restaurant to bring home leftovers, for example. :P